Premier Prix de violoncelle

Premier Prix de violoncelle
(First Prize for Cello)

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Comments

[David]

marvellous & delicious !

[BCB]

"Premier prix de violoncelle" is charming little film. It is a fine piece of farcical comedy: exaggerated expressions of contempt for the violincellist's playing are redirected at the last minute by a surprise ending. One wonders if the "first prize" the instrumentalist receives is for endurance or for playing. In this film, the silent film medium helps contribute to the playlet's sly humor. In 1907, the film would not have been exhibited with a recorded soundtrack. The instrumentalist's talent would have been subject to the opinions of cinema accompanists and the imagination of the audience. Thus, "Le premier prix de violoncelle" is not a commentary on an individual untalented musician; his talent is peripheral to the film's point. The film makes a general statment about the public's reactions to "small time" musicians. The public treats most of these artists as nuisances, regardless of whether they are good or bad. In turn, musicians are usually judged by their abilities to survive public embarrassment. At any rate, the "Le premier prix de violoncelle" is very amusing: it goes to show that the principal of embarrasing young musicians was not invented for the recent spate of cruel television talent shows.